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Topic: Improper integrals, case 1

Question: Evaluate the improper integral.



dx
∫2 x(ln x)2

Answer choices:

A 0

B ln 2

C −1

1
D
ln 2

595
Solution: D

Using an arbitrary variable b, first take the limit of the integral as b → ∞.

∞ b
dx dx
∫2 x(ln x)2 b→∞ ∫2 x(ln x)2
= lim

Let

u = ln x

1
du = dx
x

d x = x du

Plugging these values into the integral, we get

x=b
x du
b→∞ ∫x=2
lim
xu 2

x=b

b→∞ ∫x=2
lim u −2 du

x=b
lim (−u ) −1
b→∞ x=2

Back-substituting for x before we evaluate over the interval, we get

b
lim [−(ln x) ] −1
b→∞ 2

596
b

b→∞ ( ln x )
1
lim −
2

Evaluating over the interval, we get

b→∞ ( ln b ln 2 )
1 1
lim − +

1 1
− +
ln ∞ ln 2

1
ln 2

597
Topic: Improper integrals, case 1

Question: Evaluate the improper integral.


∫3
5x −7 d x

Answer choices:

5
A
4,374

5
B −
4,374

1
C
729

1
D −
729

598
Solution: A

The integral in this problem is considered to be an improper integral, case 1,


because the lower limit of integration is a constant and the upper limit is ∞.
Evaluating this type of improper integral follows this general rule:

∞ b

∫a b→∞ ∫a
f (x) d x = lim f (x) d x

We basically ignore the upper limit by replacing it with b and using a limit
process. Then, once we integrate, finding the anti-derivative, we use the
limit to finish the evaluation. Let’s begin by rewriting the integral as a limit.

∞ b

∫3 b→∞ ∫3
5x −7 d x = lim 5x −7 d x

b→∞ ∫3
5 lim x −7 d x

b
−6

[ b→∞ −6 ]
x
5 lim
3

5
− lim (b −6 − 3−6)
6 b→∞

6 b→∞ ( b 6 36 )
5 1 1
− lim −

6 b→∞ ( b 6 729 )
5 1 1
− lim −

When we take the limit, 1/b 6 becomes 0.

599
6( 729 )
5 1
− 0−

6 ( 729 )
5 1

5
4,374

600
Topic: Improper integrals, case 1

Question: Evaluate the improper integral.



2x − 5
∫9
dx
x − 5x − 7
2

Answer choices:

A −∞

B 0

C ∞

( 29 )
13
D ln

601
Solution: C

The integral in this problem is considered to be an improper integral, case 1,


because the lower limit of integration is a constant and the upper limit is ∞.
Evaluating this type of improper integral follows this general rule:

∞ b

∫a b→∞ ∫a
f (x) d x = lim f (x) d x

We basically ignore the upper limit by replacing it with b and using a limit
process. Then, once we integrate, finding the anti-derivative, we use the
limit to finish the evaluation. Let’s begin by rewriting the integral as a limit.

∞ b
2x − 5 2x − 5
∫9 b→∞ ∫9 x 2 − 5x − 7
d x = lim dx
x 2 − 5x − 7

Now we’ll change the integral using u-substitution.

u = x 2 − 5x − 7

du = (2x − 5) d x

du
dx =
2x − 5

Substitute into the integral.

u ( 2x − 5 )
x=b
2x − 5 du
b→∞ ∫x=9
lim

x=b
1
b→∞ ∫x=9
lim du
u

602
Integrate.

x=b
lim ln | u |
b→∞ x=9

Back-substitute to get the value in terms of x.

b
2
lim ln x − 5x − 7
b→∞ 9

lim [ln b 2 − 5b − 7 − ln (9)2 − 5(9) − 7 ]


b→∞

lim [ln b 2 − 5b − 7 − ln 29]


b→∞

b 2 − 5b − 7
lim ln
b→∞ 29

When we take the limit, the numerator becomes ∞. Therefore, the value of
the whole limit will be ∞.

603

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